The Quick Report 07.07.08: Top 10 LeBron Sweepstakes Destinations

Posted by Ben Quick on 07.07.2008

Just for fun, kind of...

Welcome to The Quick Report! I had originally planned to call this column "Air Quick" but that would've been even lamer. This is my first NBA column here at 411mania. I do write The Gilroy over in the movie/tv section of the site, but the frenetic energy of the NBA off season just made me jump up and start a second column. While it does kind of seem ridiculous to start an NBA column in the off season, I figured better late than never.

Actually, there is a lot to talk about. Baron Davis, Elton Brand and Gilbert Arenas all have been having some fun trying to find a home where they can still not win championships. The draft just happened, and that was, meh. Oklahoma City will soon be getting an NBA franchise, and the people of Seattle will be losing one.

Still, there's one topic that is just so much more fun to talk about. LeBron James' contract with Cleveland ends in just two seasons. When one of the top players in the league is approaching free agency it's always fun to think where he might go. So, with my first shout out, I decided to list the ten teams that I would find interesting to see snag King James. Now, I'm not a freak. All ten teams, as of today, could possibly compete for 2010's big prize. I'm not counting a sign and trade. Only teams that could possibly have the cap space to sign James.



10. Charlotte Bobcats

Okay, this isn't going to happen. The Bobcats are simply too lame. The only way this team will ever acquire a player of Lebron James' caliber is by the draft. Yet, this team will have the cap space. That's what happens when you have neither a franchise player nor the guts to overspend on someone. Still, Charlotte will have the money, but I doubt any offer they'd try would simply be met with more than a laugh from LeBron.

9. Oklahoma City Mountain Lions

Note: This isn't a news story. I have no idea what the new name for the former Seattle Supersonics will be. This is just my guess considering the recent string of NBA expansion teams with names taken from "vicious" animals(T'Wolves, Grizzles, Raptors, and Bobcats).

Currently, OK City doesn't have any contracts that even approach eight figures. They have a pool of young talent in Durant, Green and Westbrook. So, this should be a team that could make an offer, but, much like Charlotte, does anyone believe LeBron James would play in Oklahoma City? This team is obviously going to build around Kevin Durant, and to bring in LeBron would mean Durant would have to play out of position at the two, where as LeBron would be occupying his natural position of small forward. This team will have the money to offer a big contract, but they'd probably be better off chasing, say, Chris Bosh in 2010.

8. Sacramento Kings

Well, this would be a way to revive that Lakers/King rivalry! After the two meetings between LeBron and Kobe last season, I would think Kobe Bryant would be thanking God for putting LeBron in the East. With the two players in the same division? That could be awesome. After next season Ron Artest's salary does come off the books, as does Brad Miller's and Kenny Thomas' after the following season. All of this conjecture includes that none of these teams sign any other big free agents or extend big contracts to other players from their point now. LeBron could come and play in a nice market with a good scorer from the perimeter in Kevin Martin, but you know this isn't happening.

7. Phoenix Suns

For as much flack as Steve Kerr has gotten for the Shaq/Shawn Marion trade, I still think in the long run, it was a smart move. The Suns weren't going anywhere other than an eventual post season beat down by either the Lakers or Spurs before the trade. By adding Shaq, the Suns took a gamble on some size helping them against Duncan or Gasol, but what went unnoticed is that in two years they'll have twenty million coming off the books when Shaq retires. Plus, Steve Nash will be off the books for some more space clearing at thirteen million. This is of course assuming that the Suns don't resign the aging point guard that'll have two more seasons on that back.

Will the chance to play along side an all-star big in Amare be enough lure LeBron to the desert? Probably not. If Amare had the defensive skills to match his offense, that'd be another question. Then again, if that happened the Suns would probably have two or three championship banners and Shaq would be hoping Michael Beasley is really good. With Mike D'Antoni and his system gone, I don't see the buzz of wanting to play in Phoenix really lasting. LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire would be a lot fun to watch, but is that enough to pry James away from Cleveland? I doubt it...

6. Detroit Pistons

This would be like the 76ers announcing they'd signed Larry Bird back in the 80's. The Pistons will have Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess off the books after next season, and Richard Hamilton will follow the season after that. Now, assuming that Joe Dumars doesn't shake up his roster, the Pistons could possibly be in a position to make an offer. LeBron James could come to a team with a proven point guard in Chauncey Billiups and a very promising Rodney Stucky. Tayshaun Prince would probably have to be moved in order to make room for Lebron at the three. LeBron James would be coming to an organization with a track record for building championship level teams and would have several proven players to work with. Odds are the Pistons will make some moves and possibly be rebuilding in two years, but it's still an interesting thought.

5. Dallas Mavericks

The Jason Kidd trade will go down in NBA history as a panic move. The Mavericks were a team that, on paper, had a championship core. They just lacked leadership both on the floor and from a coaching standpoint. So, signing a proven veteran leader wasn't a bad idea, but it just didn't work. The good news is that Jason Kidd and his twenty million dollar contract comes off the books after next season, as does Jerry Stackhouse. While the Mavericks wouldn't be able to offer LeBron James the kind of money he could get somewhere else, they could give him a decent amount of coin, while pairing him with another all-star who's just begging to be a second option in Dirk Nowitzki. Josh Howard would be a problem in that he plays the three just like Lebron, but who really believes he will still be in Dallas in two years? Mark Cuban probably won't have the patience to try and make a run at this. Still, the Mavericks are pretty close to being the kind of destination one would think LeBron might be looking for.

4. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls having cap space in 2010 all depends on how they go after resigning Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. If they offer them the kind of money they seem to want, you can throw this team off the list. If they sign one, let the other expire, combined with Larry Hughes' contract coming off the books you're starting to see a team that could have some cap space come 2010. LeBron would have the chance to play with the kind of point guard he's always wanted in Derrick Rose. He'd be in one of the biggest markets in the world. What's not to like? Well, some would say there's a nice sized shadow hanging over Chicago basketball...

I'd bet on Dwayne Wade being more of a possibility.

3. Portland Trailblazers

Now this is the one I'd like to see most. The Portland Trailblazers will have a scary amount of cap space after next season when Steve Francis' and Raef LaFrentz's bloated contracts finally come off the books. You look at the amount of promise this team has and it dwarfs the rest of the league. They have two players who could potentially get you twenty points a night in the backcourt with Brandon Roy and Jerryd Bayless. Then up front you've got a well adjusted Rasheed Wallace clone at the four and the best center prospect since Shaq at the five with Greg Oden. The only hole Portland has is at the three, which so happens to be the position LeBron James plays. This move won't happen. This team is probably too stacked for a player like LeBron, who will no doubt want to be the man wherever he goes. Still, not many teams will be able to combine this level of talent with the cap space needed to attract LeBron.

2. Brooklyn Nets

I'm not sold on this being a real possibility, despite all the chatter. The Nets will have the cap space adding to the fact that LeBron James would clearly love to play in New York. Still, this feels like when people were saying Kobe was going to sign with Clippers a few years ago. If you're going to play in Los Angeles you want to play for the Lakers. If you're going to play in New York you want it to be with the Knicks. I think LeBron James has a fantasy of playing at MSG every night, winning the championships that have been so elusive to New York basketball and finally going down in history as the greatest Knick ever. You can talk about Jay-Z and cap space all you want to, but as of right now, I don't see the Nets being the team that takes LeBron from Cleveland, Still, with the Nets making it clear that they're making a run at James, I had to put them above the previously aimless conjecture.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

I know everyone thinks that LeBron will bolt from Cleveland the second he has a chance in 2010. I'm really doubtful though. I think he will leave on only three conditions and all three have to happen.

1. Cleveland still isn't a serious threat to win a championship.

2. The Knicks have cap space.

3. The Knicks can offer him a ready made championship contending team ala KG and Boston.

Unless it's a picture perfect exit, why leave Cleveland? Why become the NBA's foremost villain second only to Kobe Bryant if it's not going to deliver several rings to your fingers? I think Cleveland will make a move or two in the next few years and give LeBron James enough of a reason to stay a Cavalier.

_____________________________

With all the talk about the big free agents in 2010, I think only one actually moves and that's Chris Bosh. While the dream of being the King of New York will probably always be a dream of LeBron's, I just don't think the Knicks can turn that franchise around enough in only two years. I could see Dwayne Wade jumping ship to go home and play with Rose in Chicago, but I wonder if the Bulls will have the cap space.

Nah, I think LeBron sticks it out in Cleveland and Wade will have a good team around him in two years. Chris Bosh will simply have to decide if he wants to remain the best player no one watches.

I have a feeling this won't be the last time I write about this...